It is a dozen years since I acquired my home in Watnall. Conveyancing solicitors have just been appointed on the sale but I am unable to locate my title deeds. Will this jeopardise the sale?

You need not be too concerned. Firstly there is a chance that the deeds will be with your lender or they may be in the possession of the solicitor who oversaw the purchase. Secondly in all probability the title will be recorded at the land registry and you will be able to prove you are the registered owner by your conveyancing solicitors obtaining current official copies of the land registers. Nearly all conveyancing in Watnall relates to registered property but in the rare situation where your property is unregistered it is more problematic but is resolvable.

Are there restrictive covenants that are commonly picked up during conveyancing in Watnall?

Restrictive covenants can be picked up when reviewing land registry title as part of the process of conveyancing in Watnall. An 1874 stipulation that was seen was ‘The houses to be erected on the estate are each to be of a uniform elevation in accordance with the drawings to be prepared or approved by the vendor’s surveyor…’

I am looking for a ground for flat up to £235,500 and found one close by in Watnall I like with open areas and station in the vicinity, however it only has 49 remaining years left on the lease. I can't really find anything else in Watnall in this price bracket, so just wondered if I would be making a mistake purchasing a short lease?

If you require a mortgage the remaining unexpired lease term will likely be a potential deal breaker. Discount the price by the expected lease extension will cost if not already taken into account. If the existing owner has owned the property for a minimum of twenty four months you can ask them to commence the lease extension formalities and then assign it to you. An additional ninety years can be extended on to the current lease term and have £0 ground rent by law. You should consult your conveyancing lawyer concerning this matter.

What are your top tips when it comes to choosing a Watnall conveyancing firm to deal with our lease extension?

If you are instructing a property lawyer for lease extension works (regardless if they are a Watnall conveyancing practice) it is essential that he or she should be familiar with the legislation and specialises in this area of conveyancing. We advise that you speak with two or three firms including non Watnall conveyancing practices prior to instructing a firm. Where the conveyancing practice is ALEP accredited then so much the better. The following questions might be of use:

What are the charges for lease extension work? If the firm is not ALEP accredited then what is the reason?

Watnall Leasehold Conveyancing - Sample of Questions you should consider before buying

What is the annual maintenance fee and ground rent? For most Watnall leaseholds the outlay for major works tend not to be included within maintenance charges, albeit that some managing agents in Watnall require leaseholders to contribute towards a sinking fund created for the specific intention of establishing a fund for larger repairs or maintenance. How is the lease structured?

Should one as executor remove a deceased person's details from the title register for a house in Watnall?

If a Watnall property is co-owned and one of the owners dies, the name will not immediately be removed from the Land Registry title. You are not required to remove their name as when it comes to a disposal you would simply need to evidence as to the reason the other proprietor is missing from the contract, such as the probate documents.

With a view to making things simpler in the future you may apply to have the deceased person erased from the title by submitting an application to HMLR with evidence of the death. There is no land registry fee payable.